Help with a Marina Manouvre

[PEJ]

Can anyone give me a bit of guidance on the best way to execute a sort of U turn in my Marina?

There are two hammer heads oposite each other and usually a boat on each one. There is about two of my boat width's space between those two boats that I have to drive through but I have to approach this gap perpendicular to it and exit perpendicular thus doing a 180 deg "U" turn with the tip of the "U" being where the boats are. I hope the attached drawing explains it.

I dont like to just steer through the gap because I worry that my forward momentum will push me on to the boat on my starboard side when turning to port. So I get adjacent the gap, do a 90 degree turn on the engines, line my self up with the gap, drive through and then steer out.

Will I hit the starboard boat if I just steer in to the gap?

I've got a 38ft with twin sterndrives.

 

[benjenbav]

I can't see your drawing yet - no doubt the mods are checking it doesn't contain the blueprint for the DeathStar in its code. But from what you describe your approach sounds eminently sensible and if it ain't broke....

 

[Doghousekeeper]

If you're concerned about drifting sideways, you should look to minimise anything that adds to that drift, and that would include the momentum of your boat as you go into the turn. Therefore, your current practice of stopping, then making your 90 degree turn for the gap, then going straight through, sounds very sensible to me. That way, if there is any wind or tide effect to allow for, at least you only have that to consider having eliminated the momentum of your approach.

 

[Observer]

If there is no wind blowing, especially any that would blow you onto either boat, you could steer the turn using (if turning to port) starboard engine ahead to help you round, and adding port engine astern if she's not swinging to your liking. However, I think it is very sensible, if there is any adverse wind (or tide/stream) effect, to do as you described - make the 90° to line youself up then proceed in a straight line.

p.s. if you do steer round, the thing to watch for is to get the lock/power off to arrest the swing before your stern swings too far

 

[Renegade_Master]

Agreed with all the well informed relies I reckon your current approach is correct, as a full continuous turning action is more risky given the sideways motion of the stern as the turn is completed

 

[PEJ]

Thanks for the replies.

I thought I was being a bit of a wuss but I'll stick with my current method!

 

[spannerman]

I have found that raggies boats are useful for at least one thing, I always look at the windex on the mast head to see what the wind is doing when manouvering in close confines and motor on the upwind side to buy myself some time in case something unexpected happens.
Not unknown in the repair business, have had engines stop, gears get stuck in and out of gear, bow props to pack up when you are most likely to need them etc.

 

[benjenbav]

I have a windex on my boat. No use at any speed of course, but handy to get an idea of what the wind's doing when about to start manouevring around in the marina.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Can anyone give me a bit of guidance on the best way to execute a sort of U turn in my Marina?

.

No, I can't but it sure is a good way of undercover advertising! ;-)

 

[Fire99]

I'm guessing your twin sterndrive boat also has a planing hull?

Depending on Wind/Sea conditions, these kind of manouvres can be tricky as these kinds of boats dont have the best 'grip' at slow speed.
Not saying that it's impossible of course.

To be honest, if you're at all concerned, I'd just put lots of fenders down and take it very slow. If you gently bump either boat with fenders it's not going to do any harm.
Always much better than panicing or running the risk of damaged grp.

 

[jfm]

Can anyone give me a bit of guidance on the best way to execute a sort of U turn in my Marina?

There are two hammer heads oposite each other and usually a boat on each one. There is about two of my boat width's space between those two boats that I have to drive through but I have to approach this gap perpendicular to it and exit perpendicular thus doing a 180 deg "U" turn with the tip of the "U" being where the boats are. I hope the attached drawing explains it.

I dont like to just steer through the gap because I worry that my forward momentum will push me on to the boat on my starboard side when turning to port. So I get adjacent the gap, do a 90 degree turn on the engines, line my self up with the gap, drive through and then steer out.

Will I hit the starboard boat if I just steer in to the gap?

I've got a 38ft with twin sterndrives.

Yup, I'd too would do the 2x 90deg turns and go thru the actual gap straight.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

As with any boat manouvering, slowly, slowly, catchee monkey is always the way unless wind or tide are so strong that the only way you can accomplish the manouvre is by carrying it out at higher speed/rpm but that is always a risk. Your way of stopping and then turning is the safest way of carrying out the U turn because the manouvre is carried out at minimum speed and takes up the least space
As a variation on this and once you get familiar with your boat and the turn, you could try putting the inside engine into reverse and the outside engine into neutral before you actually stop for the turn. This has the effect of slowing the boat and turning it at the same time and with practice you should be able to line yourself up for the gap without actually stopping and then turning